Hard West

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for Hard West reveals a clear and consistent scaling pattern as resolution increases. At 1920x1080 with High settings, the system delivers 218.3 FPS, which drops to 136.8 FPS at 2560x1440, and further down to 72.4 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 37% reduction from 1080p to 1440p, and a 47% reduction from 1440p to 4K. The overall drop from 1080p to 4K is 67%, which indicates that the rendering load scales dramatically with pixel count.

What is particularly revealing is how the scaling behaves across different settings presets. At Low settings, the FPS drops from 256.7 at 1080p to 217.4 at 1440p, then to 115 at 4K. The 1440p to 4K reduction of 47% at Low settings mirrors the High preset drop almost exactly. However, at Ultra settings, the pattern shifts: 165.1 FPS at 1080p, 106 FPS at 1440p, and 52.4 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset shows a steeper 51% decline from 1440p to 4K compared to the 47% seen at High and Low.

This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces additional effects that disproportionately tax the GPU at higher resolutions. The game appears to be heavily GPU-bound at 4K across all settings, given that even the Low preset cannot maintain 120 FPS at 3840x2160. At 1080p, the difference between Low (256.7 FPS) and Ultra (165.1 FPS) is 91.6 FPS, indicating that the settings presets have a substantial impact even at lower resolutions where the CPU could potentially become a factor.

The data implies that Hard West's turn-based tactical rendering pipeline is not particularly demanding on the CPU side at high frame rates, but the pixel fill requirements at 4K create a significant bottleneck. The 52.4 FPS at 4K Ultra is the only measured result below 60 FPS, making it the sole configuration where smooth gameplay could be compromised. The scaling curve suggests that 1440p offers a sweet spot where the visual quality improvements from higher settings remain accessible without hitting the steep 4K penalty.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-13400F brings 10 cores and 16 threads to this configuration, with a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.60 GHz. This processor sits in the 82nd percentile of all CPUs according to benchmark data, with an average benchmark score of 25236. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-13620H with a delta of 0.1% and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D at -0.5%, placing the i5-13400F in a tightly contested performance band.

In Hard West, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU, as evidenced by the FPS scaling patterns. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 256.7 FPS, which is remarkably high for a turn-based tactics title. This suggests the game's simulation and AI logic are not heavily threaded, or that the 10-core configuration is more than sufficient for the workload. The 16 threads provide ample headroom for background processes and game logic, but the measured results indicate that Hard West does not push the processor to its limits.

The single-thread performance of the i5-13400F, reflected in its 3dmark_single_thread score of 960 and passmark_single_thread score of 3634, is relevant for turn-based games that often rely on a primary game thread. The boost clock of 4.60 GHz provides strong single-core throughput, which likely prevents CPU bottlenecks even at the highest frame rates measured. The cinebench_r23_singlecore score of 3004 reinforces this capability.

When comparing to the nearest rivals, the performance deltas are minimal — within 0.5% of the AMD EPYC 9474F and AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 340. This indicates that the CPU is not a differentiating factor in this game's performance. The data suggests that Hard West's frame rates are governed almost entirely by GPU throughput, with the CPU providing consistent, predictable performance across all tested configurations. The 65W TDP and 10 nm process node contribute to sustained boost behavior, but the game itself does not appear to stress thermals or power delivery to any meaningful degree.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is the dominant component in this configuration, and the measured FPS data confirms its central role in Hard West's performance. With 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, the GPU delivers 960.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. The base clock of 2295 MHz and boost clock of 2617 MHz, combined with 10752 shading units, provide substantial compute throughput. The GPU sits in the 89th percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 59188.

The GPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Arc A570M at +1.6% delta, the Intel Arc Pro A60 at -1.9%, and the Intel Arc A580 at +2.5%. These deltas are small, but the RTX 5080's performance in Hard West demonstrates that the game scales strongly with GPU capability. The 4K results are particularly telling: at Ultra settings, the GPU produces 52.4 FPS, which is the only sub-60 FPS result in the entire dataset. This indicates that Hard West's Ultra preset at 4K places a significant load on the GPU's pixel processing and memory subsystems.

The RTX 5080's memory configuration is noteworthy for this game. The 16 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for Hard West, which is a 2015 release with relatively modest texture requirements. However, the 960.0 GB/s bandwidth helps maintain consistent frame delivery even at 4K, where memory throughput becomes critical. The measured FPS at 4K Medium (94 FPS) versus 4K High (72.4 FPS) shows a 30% difference, suggesting that certain High preset effects substantially increase memory pressure or shader complexity.

The GPU's compute capabilities, measured at 56.28 TFLOPS FP32, are far beyond what Hard West requires. The game's turn-based nature means that frame-to-frame consistency is more important than peak throughput, and the data shows the RTX 5080 delivering stable averages across all settings. The passmark_g3d score of 36565 and 3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12 score of 8637 position this GPU as a high-end part, but the in-game results indicate that Hard West's Ultra preset at 4K remains a challenge even for this hardware.

How This Combo Ranks

This combination of Intel Core i5-13400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 ranks 73rd out of 1699 tested combos in Hard West. This places the configuration in the top 4.3% of all tested systems, which is a strong result for a game released in 2015. The ranking reflects the GPU's dominance in this title, as the CPU's performance band (82nd percentile) is lower than the GPU's (89th percentile), yet the overall combo still achieves a high rank.

The rank of 73 suggests that Hard West rewards GPU-heavy configurations more than CPU-heavy ones. The 1699 combos tested include a wide range of hardware pairings, and this system's position indicates that the RTX 5080's capabilities are fully utilized. The gap between the CPU's 82nd percentile and the combo's top 4.3% ranking implies that the GPU is the primary driver of performance in this game, with the CPU providing sufficient support without becoming a limiting factor.

Comparing to the CPU's nearest rivals, the performance deltas of 0.1% to 0.5% suggest that swapping the i5-13400F for a comparable processor would not meaningfully change the combo's ranking. The GPU's nearest rivals show larger deltas (up to 2.6%), but these are still modest in absolute terms. The data indicates that the combo's high rank is primarily attributable to the RTX 5080's raw performance, which places it well above the median tested GPU.

The ranking also reflects the game's age and optimization. Hard West's turn-based tactical genre does not demand state-of-the-art hardware, so the RTX 5080's capabilities are somewhat underutilized at lower resolutions. However, the 4K Ultra result of 52.4 FPS shows that even modern high-end GPUs can be challenged by maxed-out settings at the highest resolution. The combo's rank of 73 suggests that most tested systems cannot achieve this level of performance, making this configuration a top-tier choice for Hard West enthusiasts.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all presets deliver well above 60 FPS, with the Low preset reaching 256.7 FPS and Ultra achieving 165.1 FPS. The 91.6 FPS gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p indicates that players can safely enable Ultra settings for the best visual experience without sacrificing smoothness.

At 2560x1440, the High preset delivers 136.8 FPS, while Ultra manages 106 FPS. The Medium preset hits 181.4 FPS, making it the best choice for players who prioritize frame rates above 144 Hz. For those with 144 Hz displays, the High preset provides a good balance, and Ultra remains viable for 60 Hz or 120 Hz displays. The 4K resolution presents the most constrained options: High delivers 72.4 FPS, Medium achieves 94 FPS, and Low reaches 115 FPS. Ultra drops to 52.4 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay.

The data suggests that the Medium preset offers the best overall experience at 4K, providing 94 FPS while maintaining reasonable visual quality. At 1440p, High is recommended for the best balance of quality and performance, while 1080p players can use Ultra without concern. The 4K Ultra preset is only suitable for players who accept frame rates below 60 FPS, as the 52.4 FPS result indicates a significant performance penalty for the additional visual effects.

For players with high refresh rate displays, the 1080p Low preset's 256.7 FPS and 1440p Medium's 181.4 FPS provide ample headroom. The measured data shows that Hard West scales well with settings changes, allowing players to fine-tune the experience based on their display capabilities and visual preferences.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run Hard West at 4K with maximum settings?

A: Yes, but at 52.4 FPS on Ultra settings at 3840x2160. This is below the 60 FPS threshold, so gameplay may not feel perfectly smooth. The High preset at 4K achieves 72.4 FPS for a better experience.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The High preset at 2560x1440 delivers 136.8 FPS, while Medium achieves 181.4 FPS. For 144 Hz displays, High is recommended; for 165 Hz or higher, Medium provides better headroom.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: This configuration ranks 73rd out of 1699 tested combos in Hard West, placing it in the top 4.3% of all tested systems.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary factor. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 256.7 FPS, suggesting the CPU can support very high frame rates. The GPU becomes the bottleneck at higher resolutions, particularly at 4K Ultra with 52.4 FPS.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1080p?

A: All presets exceed 165 FPS at 1920x1080. The Low preset delivers 256.7 FPS, Medium achieves 238.9 FPS, High reaches 218.3 FPS, and Ultra produces 165.1 FPS.

Q: Does the RTX 5080's 16 GB VRAM matter for this game?

A: Hard West is a 2015 release, so 16 GB is far more than required. The 960.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is more relevant, helping maintain consistent performance at 4K where memory throughput is critical.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS values are as follows: Low settings deliver 256.7 FPS, Medium reaches 238.9 FPS, High achieves 218.3 FPS, and Ultra produces 165.1 FPS. The spread from lowest to highest setting is 91.6 FPS, representing a 36% performance penalty for Ultra compared to Low.

At 2560x1440, the results show a similar pattern with lower absolute values. Low settings achieve 217.4 FPS, Medium delivers 181.4 FPS, High reaches 136.8 FPS, and Ultra produces 106 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra at 1440p is 111.4 FPS, which is a 51% reduction. This larger percentage gap compared to 1080p (36%) indicates that the Ultra preset's additional effects become more demanding at higher resolutions.

At 3840x2160, the measured values are: Low delivers 115 FPS, Medium reaches 94 FPS, High achieves 72.4 FPS, and Ultra produces 52.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Ultra at 4K is 62.6 FPS, representing a 54% reduction. This is the largest percentage penalty across all resolutions, confirming that Ultra settings at 4K place the heaviest load on the GPU.

The data shows a consistent pattern across all settings: as resolution increases, the absolute FPS values decrease, but the relative performance gap between presets widens. At 1080p, the Ultra preset retains 64% of Low's performance. At 1440p, this drops to 49%. At 4K, Ultra retains only 46% of Low's frame rate. This trend indicates that the Ultra preset's additional graphical features scale non-linearly with resolution, making them increasingly expensive at higher pixel counts.

The 4K results are particularly noteworthy for their clustering: Low (115 FPS), Medium (94 FPS), and High (72.4 FPS) all remain above 60 FPS, while Ultra falls to 52.4 FPS. This suggests that the Ultra preset introduces a specific set of effects that cause a disproportionate performance hit at 4K, potentially related to shadow quality, post-processing, or draw distance calculations. The 21.6 FPS difference between Medium and High at 4K is the smallest gap between adjacent presets in the dataset, indicating that these two presets are closer in visual quality than the FPS difference might suggest.